When Sweden’s largest sailing competition Gotland Runt 2023 started yesterday, 200 boats were registered.
On Monday, a record number had given up because of the harsh weather.
– The sailors were picked up by helicopter, says Stefan Rahm, club director KSSS.
TV4 News was there when Gotland Runt started. Even then it was reported that the sailors were in for a tough situation with rough weather out at sea.
– This is the eye of the storm with conditions that are quite miserable, KSSS club director Stefan Rahm said then and continued:
– The weather is expected to be very rough, so there is a great deal of nervousness among the boats.
A record number of people gave up during Gotland Runt
Today, many had given up the competition due to the tough weather conditions. Only 50 boats were reported to be still in the competition during Monday morning.
– This has probably never happened before, that so many have broken the racing. A record number have dropped out, says Stefan Rahm.
Rescued by helicopter
When TV4 Nyheterna talks to Stefan Rahm on Monday, he also says that there have been some incidents.
– Many have been sensible and interrupted in time. There has been one personal injury so far, which was a person who suffered a minor concussion.
There has also been a mast break and two rudder failures.
– A rudder came off completely and the sails were picked up by the sea rescue by helicopter. They were extremely experienced sailors. The situation is uncertain for that boat, which is now drifting out to sea.
He said that the competition in previous years has had some incidents, with a total of one death.